Lace locking device

ABSTRACT

A lace locker ( 100, 200 ) is disclosed having a housing ( 110, 210 ) that may include an attachment flange ( 112, 212 ), and a cam lever ( 120, 220 ) pivotably attached to the housing, such that the cam lever is movable between a locking position and a release position. The lace locker receives a lace ( 96 ) that extends between a toothed cam portion ( 123, 223 ) of the cam lever and a front wall ( 114, 214 ) of the housing, such that in the locking position the lace locker clampingly engages the lace. A lever portion ( 122, 222 ) of the lace locker includes an aperture adapted to accommodate the lace. A biasing member such as a spring ( 230 ) may optionally be included to bias the lace locker toward the locking position. A cooperative lever tab ( 241 ) and housing aperture ( 243 ) may be provided to temporarily latch the lace locker in the release position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/690,820, filed Jun. 14, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to lacing systems and, in particular, to lace lockers for facilitating tensioning and de-tensioning lacing systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In-line skates, quad skates, ice skates, snowboard boots, ski boots, and other sporting footwear often include a high-back boot upper that attaches to a boot sole, and receives the user's foot, thereby securing the skate or other footwear to the user. An opening or vamp is typically provided near the front of the upper to facilitate putting on and taking off the boot. Various mechanisms for securing the boot upper about the user's foot are known and commonly practiced in the art. For example, skates, such as in-line skates, frequently include both a lace-type fastening system and a strap-type fastener. The lace-type fastening system allows the user to tighten the upper along at least a portion of the length of the vamp, providing a secure and comfortable fit for the user. Additionally, one or more strap assemblies—typically having oppositely-disposed straps attached on either side of the vamp and employing an adjustable buckling mechanism—provide a strong and secure attachment. Strap assemblies are typically located near the top of the upper, providing a binding force about the user's ankle. Often a second strap assembly is provided that extends generally over the user's instep. The strap-type fastener is typically much sturdier than the lace system and, therefore, provides a more robust connection that is able to withstand the stresses of even a very rigorous skater's activity, while also protecting the lace from excessive stresses.

Donning such boots and skates, however, can be tedious and inconvenient for the user due to the multiple securement mechanisms. The inconvenience is particularly undesirable in sporting activities when the user may be burdened with other gear, such as padding, safety equipment, backpacks, and the like, that makes reaching down to the skates more difficult. Also, if the user attempts to fasten or adjust the laces and/or straps while standing upright on the skates, fastening these securement mechanisms may be even more problematic due to the skater's need to maintain balance.

Mechanisms that alleviate the need to physically tie the laces are known, including, for example, devices often referred to as lace fasteners or lace lockers. Lace lockers typically provide a lace-clamping mechanism that may be slidably disposed on the laces, and is adapted to releasably hold the laces in a tightened configuration. An example of a lace locker is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,593 to Leick. Leick discloses a lace locker having a circular locking member slidably disposed in a converging cavity of a body that is adapted to receive a lace. When the locking member is near the narrow end of the cavity, it clampingly engages the laces. When the locking member is near the wider end of the cavity, the locking member releases the lace, permitting the lace locker to slide along the length of the lace (or the lace to slide through the lace locker). The locking member is biased toward the locking position, i.e., toward the narrow end of the cavity, and a “pusher” button is attached to the locking member, permitting the user to move the locking member against the biasing force to release the lace.

Another lace locker mechanism, operating on similar principles, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,867 to Azam. Azam discloses a device similar to that disclosed by Leick but having a release mechanism that locks the lace locker in the unlocked position to facilitate disengagement or loosening of the lace.

Generally, prior art lace lockers require two hands to engage and/or disengage the lace locker. For example, in a slidable lace locker a user must grasp the lace in one hand and grasp the lace locker with the other hand to push the lace locker along a portion of the length of the lace. Similarly, to remove a boot equipped with such lace lockers, the user must first loosen the lace locker and then typically pull outwardly on the tongue of the boot. Another disadvantage of prior art lace lockers is that the lace locker must be positioned generally at the top of the uppermost lace keeper to hold the lace in the tightened position. This may be inconvenient in boots that also have a strap-type fastener because the lace locker may interfere with the desired location of the strap and/or buckle. Interference between the strap and the lace locker may also result in damage to either or both of these devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device for releasably securing a lace is disclosed, that is particularly, though not exclusively, suitable for using in athletic footwear, such as skates and the like. The disclosed lace locker may be conveniently secured to a boot tongue, for example, and provides a quick and simple means for the user to tension a lace, and/or to selectively release the lace tension.

In the currently preferred embodiment, a lace locker includes a housing that pivotably supports an activation mechanism such as a cam lever. The cam lever includes a lever portion that extends out of the housing, and is engaged by the user to release the lace locker, that is, to move the lace locker form the locking position to the release position. The lever portion includes an aperture therethrough, adapted to accommodate the lace. The cam lever also includes a cam portion, that may be toothed. The cam portion is disposed adjacent a wall portion of the housing, defining a channel therebetween that is adapted to receive the lace. When the cam lever is in the locking position, a lace in the channel is clamping engaged between the cam portion and the housing wall portion. A biasing element, such as a spring, may bias the cam lever towards the locking position.

The disclosed lace locker includes an attachment flange, that may be used to attach the lace locker, for example to the tongue of a sports boot. To tighten the lace, the user simply pulls upwardly on the lace. Upon releasing the lace, the tension in the lace will tend to further hold the lace locker toward the locking position. To release tension in the lace, the user simply pushes upwardly on the lever portion of the cam lever, to move the lace locker towards the release position. In one embodiment of the invention, a latching mechanism is provided to optionally allow the user to temporarily latch the lace locker in the release position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a lace locker according to the present invention, attached to the upper portion of a tongue of a sports boot;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of the lace locker shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2A showing the lace locker in the locking position, FIG. 2B showing the lace locker in the open position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the lace locker shown in FIGS. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a lace locker according to the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a front perspective exploded view of the lace locker shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5B is a back perspective exploded view of the lace locker shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional side view of the lace locker of FIG. 4 in the locking position and installed on a boot tongue; and

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional side view of the lace locker of FIG. 4 in the release position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a lace locker 100 made in accordance with the present invention, and mounted near the upper end of a tongue 92 on a sports boot 90, for example an inline skate boot. The boot 90 includes an elongate slot or vamp 98 that is biased to a closed position by a conventional lace 96. A conventional strap assembly 94 is also provided, generally about the ankle portion of the boot 90. The lace locker 100 is preferably attached to the tongue 92, and above the strap assembly 94. As discussed in more detail below, the lace locker 100 allows the user to easily tension the lace 96, by simply pulling upwardly on the lace 96.

Refer now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, showing the lace locker 100 in isolation, and with the lace 96 disposed therethrough. FIG. 2A shows the lace locker 100 in the closed or locking position, and FIG. 2B shows the lace locker 100 in the open or release position. The lace locker 100 includes a body or housing 110 that may including a peripheral flange 112 to facilitate attaching the housing 110 to the boot 90. The housing 110 includes a front wall portion 114 that is disposed forwardly from the flange 112.

An actuator that is preferably in the form of a lever-mounted cam, hereinafter referred to as a cam lever 120, is pivotably disposed substantially in the housing 110. The cam lever 120 includes a lever portion 122 that extends from an aperture in the housing 110 and is accessible to the user such that the user can push upwardly on the lever portion 122 to pivot the cam lever 120 from the locking position shown in FIG. 2A to the release position shown in FIG. 2B.

Refer now to FIG. 3, which shows a partially cross-sectioned side view of the lace locker 100, with the cam lever 120 in the locking position. It can now be seen that the cam lever 120 includes the lever portion 122 and an attached or integral cam portion 123. In this embodiment the cam portion 123 is integral with the lever portion 122. The lever portion 122 includes a cutout or aperture 121 therethrough. The lace 96 is clampingly engaged between the cam portion 123 of the cam lever 120 and the front wall 114 of the housing 110, and extends upwardly through the cutout or aperture 121 in the lever portion 122 of the cam lever 120. The cam portion 123 of the cam lever 120 may also include outwardly-extending teeth 124 that are positioned to engage the lace 96 when the cam lever 120 is in the locking position. The teeth 124 are positioned on the cam portion 123 above the pivot point of the cam lever 120, such that when the lace 96 is in tension during use, the lace 96 will produce a generally downward force on the teeth 124 of the cam lever 120, thereby urging the cam lever 120 towards the locking position, and improving the clamping engagement of the lace 96.

In this embodiment, the housing 110 includes a pair of oppositely disposed rearward walls 131 (one visible in FIG. 3). The cam portion 123 of the cam lever 120 has a transverse aperture 133 therethrough, at the pivot point for the cam lever 120. A pivot pin 135 extends through the cam lever transverse aperture 133 and through oppositely disposed, apertures (not visible) in the rearward walls 131, to pivotably attach the cam lever 120 to the housing 110. Although not shown in FIGS. 1-3, it is contemplated that a spring or other biasing device may optionally be provided to bias the cam lever 120, preferably towards the locking position.

The flange 112 of the lace locker 100 provides a surface to facilitate very secure attachment of the lace locker 100 to the boot, for example to the tongue or other portion of the boot upper. The flange 112 may, for example, be sewn to the boot, and/or may be disposed underneath an outer layer of the boot. An adhesive or other fixative may be used to fix the lace locker 100 to the boot. It is also contemplated that the lace locker 100 may alternatively be removably attached to the boot, for example by providing the lace locker 100 with a releasable engagement mechanism, such as a hook or the like that engages a corresponding engagement mechanism (not shown) on the boot.

A perspective view of another embodiment of a lace locker 200 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. An exploded three-quarter front view of the lace locker 200 is shown in FIG. 5A, and an exploded, three-quarter rear view of the lace locker 200 is shown in FIG. 5B. Referring now to all three views, the lace locker 200 includes a housing 210 having a peripheral flange 212, a rear wall portion 213 (FIG. 5B), and a front wall portion 214. A lower aperture 257 is provided generally below and behind the front wall portion 214, to accommodate the lace (not shown). A cap 240 is attached to the back side of the housing 210, for example with cooperative tabs 250 on the rear wall portion 213 and recesses 251 in the cap 240. Other attachment mechanisms are known in the art and contemplated by the present invention. The cap 240, cooperatively with the housing 210 define a partially closed volume, with a forward aperture 218. A cam lever 220, having a lever portion 222 and a cam portion 223, is pivotably disposed in the defined volume, such that the lever portion 222 extends through the forward aperture 218 in the housing 210, and is engageable by the user for pivoting the cam lever 220, usually from the lower locking position to the upper release position. The cam portion 223 of the cam lever 220 preferably includes a plurality of outwardly disposed teeth 224, that may extend transversely across the length of the cam portion 223.

A pair of oppositely-disposed posts 226 on the cam lever 220 are sized and positioned to be inserted into corresponding apertures 216 in the rear wall portion 213 of the housing 210, such that the cam lever 220 is pivotably retained therein. An optional biasing member such as a spring 230 is attached to the cam lever 220 and biases the cam lever 220 toward the locking position. The lever portion 222 of the cam lever 220 includes an aperture 228 therethrough to accommodate a lace (not shown).

The cap 240 in the disclosed embodiment includes one or more cutouts or apertures 255 to accommodate the spring 230. It will be appreciated that the flange portion 212 may be used to facilitate attaching the lace locker 200 to a boot or other footwear, for example using any of the methods described above.

Refer now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, showing a side view of the lace locker 200, wherein the housing 210 and cap 240 are shown in cross-section. The lace locker 200 is attached to a boot tongue 92 with stitches 91 that extend through the flange 212, although other attachment methods are clearly suitable, as are well-known in the art. The cam lever 220 is shown in the lower, locking position in FIG. 6A and in the upper, release position in FIG. 6B.

The spring 230 is positioned with one leg extending through the cutout 255 in the cap 240, and the opposite end engaged in an aperture 225 in the cam lever 220, and a coiled portion disposed about the post 226, such that the spring 230 biases the cam lever 220 towards the locking position. In the locking position the teeth 224 clampingly engage the lace 96 between the cam portion 223 of the cam lever 220 and the inside surface of the front wall 214.

The cam lever 220 also includes an optional tab portion 241, that may be integrally formed, and that is positioned, sized and shaped to engage a corresponding aperture 243 in the housing 210, whereby the cam lever 220 can be temporarily locked or retained in the open position. To release the cam lever 220, i.e. to return to the lace locking position, the user simply pushed downwardly on the lever portion 222.

Referring still to FIGS. 6A and 6B, is can be seen that the lace 96 enter the lace locker 220 through a lower aperture 257 in the housing 210, and extend upwardly between the inside surface of the front wall portion 210 and the cam portion 223 of the cam lever 220, wherein the lace 96 are lockingly engageable by the cam lever 220. The lace 96 extends upwardly through the aperture 228 through the lever portion 222, for easy access by the user.

In the preferred embodiment, the lace locker 200 is located on the tongue of a skate boot above the buckle strap (see FIG. 1), thereby allowing easy access and use of the lace locker 200. The tension in the lace 96 can be relieved by simply pushing upwardly on the lever portion 222, to move the cam lever 220 from the locking position to the release position. This allows easy and ergonomic release—for example, allowing the user to simply push upwardly on the cam lever 220 while grasping the tongue and pulling generally upwardly and forwardly to pull slack into the lacing system for easy release and removal of the boot. It is contemplated that the lace locker 200 may advantageously combined with a handle or strap (not shown) at the top of the tongue. It will be appreciated that, in the preferred embodiment, the lace locker 200 will automatically re-engage the lace when the cam lever 220 is released rather than requiring the user to manually move the cam lever 220 to the locking position. If it is desired to loosen the lace slightly, the user can simply push upwardly momentarily on the cam lever 220. It will also be appreciated that the lace locker 200 has an ergonomic shape that is easy and intuitive to operate. Moreover, the cam lever 220 is self-locking—that is, the tension in the lace tends to pull the locking mechanism into the locking position.

It will also be appreciated that although the present invention includes an aperture 228 in the lever portion 222 of the cam lever 220 to accommodate the lace 96; alternatively, the cam lever 220 may alternatively be bifurcated, e.g. L-shaped or U-shaped, to accommodate the lace or the lace may be directed around the cam lever 220. It is also contemplated that the lace locker 200 mechanism could alternatively be rotated at an angle, such as ninety degrees (90°), from the orientation shown. The lace locker 200 may be utilized with inline skates, conventional skates, snowboard boots, ski boots, backpacks or other containers, or other sporting and non-sporting equipment.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A lace locker adapted to selectively engage a lace, the lace locker comprising: a housing adapted to receive a lace therethrough, the housing having a front wall and a back wall; a cam lever pivotably attached to the back wall, the cam lever having a cam portion disposed substantially within the housing and a lever portion extending out from the housing; wherein the cam lever is movable between a locking position in which the received lace is frictionally retained between the cam portion of the cam lever and the housing front wall, and a release position in which the received lace is not retained by the cam portion, by pushing upwardly on the lever portion.
 2. The lace locker of claim 1, wherein the cam portion of the cam lever further comprises an outwardly-disposed tooth that engages the lace when the cam lever is in the locking position.
 3. The lace locker of claim 1, wherein the lace locker further comprises a peripheral flange.
 4. The lace locker of claim 3, wherein the lever portion of the lever cam is oriented away from the flange, and further wherein displacing the lever portion generally upwardly pivots the cam lever such that the cam portion moves away from the front wall.
 5. The lace locker of claim 4, wherein the lever portion further comprises an aperture that is adapted to accommodate the lace.
 6. The lace locker of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member that engages the cam lever such that the cam lever is biased toward the locking position.
 7. The lace locker of claim 6, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.
 8. The lace locker of claim 1, wherein the lace locker is oriented such that tension in the received lace biases the cam lever towards the locking position.
 9. The lace locker of claim 1, wherein the lace locker comprises a separable front flange portion having an aperture therethrough and a cap portion that attaches to the front flange portion to define the housing, and further wherein the cam lever includes outwardly disposed posts to facilitate pivotable mounting to the housing.
 10. The lace locker of claim 1, wherein the cam lever further comprises a tab portion, and the housing further comprises an aperture that is sized and positioned to frictionally receive the tab portion of the cam lever when the cam lever is moved to the release position.
 11. A device for securing a lace, the device comprising: a housing adapted to be attached to a boot, the housing having a wall portion; a cam lever pivotably attached to the housing, the cam lever having a lever portion and a toothed cam portion, the toothed cam portion being disposed opposite the housing wall portion defining a channel therebetween that is adapted to accommodate the lace; wherein the cam lever is movable between a first position that clampingly secures the lace between the toothed cam portion of the cam lever and the wall portion of the housing, and a second position wherein the lace is not clampingly secured.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the toothed cam portion is movable away from the wall portion of the housing toward the second position by pushing upwardly on the lever portion.
 13. The device of claim 11, wherein the lever portion further comprises an aperture that is adapted to accommodate the lace.
 14. The device of claim 11, further comprising a biasing member that engages the cam lever such that the cam lever is biased toward the first position.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.
 16. The device of claim 11, wherein the housing is oriented such that tension in the received lace biases the cam lever towards the locking position.
 17. The device of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a front flange portion having an aperture therethrough and a cap portion that attaches to the front flange portion.
 18. The device of claim 11, wherein the cam lever further comprises a tab portion, and the housing further comprises an aperture that is sized and positioned to frictionally receive the tab portion of the cam lever when the cam lever is moved to the release position. 